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Are american idol contestants paid? All about the artists' participation

American Idol has a long history on television, and some doubts have started to arise regarding its competitors, such as whether they receive any kind of payment for their participation. Here, check out all the details.

Symphony Howlett in American Idol.
© IMDbSymphony Howlett in American Idol.

American Idol is known for being one of the most popular singing reality shows and has had quite a success over the seasons. Many contestants have become big stars despite not emerging victorious, but not all of them have earned a salary.

Tori Kelly is one of those contestants. She auditioned when she was only 16 for the competition during the ninth season, which aired in 2010. Despite not winning, she went on to build a significant music career.

Many viewers have wondered if these artists get paid at any point. Well, some do receive payment, but not throughout the entire course of the program, rather when they reach a specific stage. Here, check out when and how much…

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Do American Idol contestants receive payment?

Yes, some contestants on American Idol receive payment for their participation in the ABC singing competition. According to Marca, Fox Business revealed that the Top 24 artists receive payment based on the number of hours they spend in the filming studio.

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AFTRA pays contestants around $1,571 dollars and provides meals for two-hour episodes, while those who film for just one hour would receive $1,303 dollars. Additionally, they also receive a wardrobe allowance as they need to look presentable for the show.

Richard Rushfield, the former contributing editor at Vanity Fair, disclosed, “They go shopping with a fashion consultant who works on the show, and they get like $450 a week to spend on whatever they want”.

“But many of them dip into their own pocket because a few hundred dollars doesn’t go far in many of these pricey Hollywood stores. The clothes are theirs to keep after the show”, he added later.

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It is estimated that over the seasons, the money awarded to participants in the competition has increased, but the total amount they currently earn has not been disclosed so far.

Ariadna, a Journalism graduate from Tea and Deportea in Buenos Aires, Argentina, is fluent in both English and Spanish. She has been a key member of the Spoiler US team since its inception in 2023, where she covers a wide range of topics including entertainment, cinema, interviews, television programs, lifestyle, celebrity news, influencers, streaming platforms, pop culture, and reality shows. Before her role at Spoiler US, Ariadna joined Bolavip US in 2022, contributing to a diverse array of content areas. Her career began in 2021 at Indie Emergente, a digital music magazine, and she has also written about various cultural events for Spoiler Latinoamerica in 2023. With over three years of experience in journalism across various media outlets, Ariadna continues to broaden her expertise and impact in the field.

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